So we took the kids on a bike ride tonight. And yes, I said WE, not Aaron. It was our first family bike ride since Adam joined the group, and it was an adventure.
First of all, I really wish I had a photo of us all. Aaron lead, pulling the bike trailer with Adam in his carseat. I believe the baby spent the entire time clutching the red strap for dear life. Leah and Ben were on their two-wheelers, and I brought up the rear. (All of us were properly helmeted, of course.)
We were of course presented with several obstacles. Before even moving, we had to establish the riding order. Leah and Ben both wanted to be first, and for some reason they insisted that Aaron was the only parent worth trusting. For about 10 minutes, either or both of the kids were shrieking, "Daaaaddy! Daaaaaddy! Waaait!" As if the point of a bike ride is to stand still. Also as if there weren't another parent directly behind, physically preventing them from being left behind in any way. I felt totally invisible.
After the kids finally get in the groove of moving forward, we had to stop because Leah had an issue with her bottom. As in, we were stopped on the sidewalk along a very busy street, and she's acting like her undies are pulled up to her chin and she's trying to dig them out. I took her on the other side of the trailer and did a little investigating. She was wearing a skort (one of those awesome skirts with built in shorts), and had managed to acquire (while still at home) small amount of sand inside her underwear. (no, I did NOT pull her pants down in public.) Can you imagine? No wonder the poor girl was uncomfortable!
Our destination was the mall. After crossing a major intersection (4-way stops are great!) we managed to lock all four bikes together at the "fish-tank" entrance of the mall. The kids watched fish while I tried really hard not to appear too judgemental of the 2 teenage couples sitting next to me cuddling.
The return trip included a stop at a new local restaurant, Casa Ramos. If you had told me two years ago that we would willingly take these particular kids to a Mexican restaurant, I would have laughed at you. The decor is totally up the kids' alley, with its crazy rainforest theme. The food, not so much - no kids menu, and you remember Leah's aversion to sauce and spice? Thankfully, they customized the enchilada and taco for us. Everyone enjoyed their dinners -even, and especially, Leah. Who'd have thought?
I like to think we made a lot of people's evenings a bit happier, with our little parade. But all that warm-fuzziness was destroyed by Ben's hysterical yelling and mad pedaling as Aaron left the parking lot a few feet too far in front of him. Seriously, kid, is there a more embarrassing way to depart?
Shortly after that performance, he got a taste of pavement. It was his first and only on that trip, which in itself is pretty exceptional. The culprit was the downhill slope to that 4-way stop corner. Also contributing, the fact that he still hasn't figured out how to brake by back-pedaling and insists on using a dragged foot. We decided to walk the bikes across the street, because I didn't trust him on that decline towards major traffic.
And we all made it back to our nest safely and happily.
Like a waterfall in slow motion, Part One
2 years ago
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8 comments:
It was a prime evening for a bike ride tonight. The girls and I did our normal loop, about half of which is along the Red River. Certainly less drama and adventure than you had... also without the nice supper stop.
What an adventure! OMGosh you're brave! Isaac still hasn't figured out the concept of pedaling let along the brakes part! He's still in the trailer and will be for a little while longer, just for my sanity.
Tara 8-)
Casa Ramos.............isn't that the former Hooters.
How did you decide to take that ride because nowwwwww.........L and B will think that they can go their on their own just to show how 'grownup' they are.
Or more dangerously from a financial perspective, they might think they can go to Best Buy on their own (conveninetly located between said restaurant and the mall). The 52" LED backlit LCD TVs are extremely tempting....
That slope by the four way stop will return as Ben's nemesis in 12 years as he learns to master starting uphill from a stop with a manual automotive transmission.
Research also indicates that the mall loop is about 10% longer total distance than the neighborhood loop....
Speaking of Ben, he might enjoy seeing them work on the train tressel which crosses the river downtown. I first noted the work Sunday when I was out biking. Then last night a sound which resembles pilings being driven began and has been fairly continuous since. Main Avenue bridge may be a good vantage point.
Thomas the Tank Engine was not Available for comment on this Forum report....
"About 300 feet of timber trestle on the bridge between the Veterans Memorial and NP Avenue bridges will be replaced with steel piles and precast concrete, Gus Melonas said Friday.
Crews will work around the clock for about five days, or until the job is finished, Melonas said.
During construction, trains will whistle as required by federal regulations, and there will be noise and light, Melonas said."
Dean- Yes, it's the old Hooters. No, I have no idea how much of the old decor is included in the new restaurant, but there were no orange hot-pants around!
Noel- Thanks for the tip! We may have to take a walk on the Main street bridge and check it out. And I was wondering how the two loops compared in length. Thanks!
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